http://www.thecornernews.com/index.php/chew_on_this/ en nowlinm@auburn.edu Copyright 2008 2008-04-16T20:28:00-06:00 http://www.thecornernews.com/index.php/chew_on_this/memorial-day-weekend-reggae-fest-in-tn/ http://www.thecornernews.com/index.php/chew_on_this/memorial-day-weekend-reggae-fest-in-tn/#When:19:28:00Z Check out this cool little reggae music festival that's going on in Turtletown, TN, Memorial Day weekend, May 23-25. http://www.campreggae.net/ Check out this cool little reggae music festival that’s going on in Turtletown, TN, Memorial Day weekend, May 23-25.  http://www.campreggae.net/ I were going to be in the US, I’d defiantly check it out. 2008-04-16T19:28:00-06:00 http://www.thecornernews.com/index.php/chew_on_this/the-coolest-mobile-home-internet-radio-and-internet-toolbar-ive-come-across/ http://www.thecornernews.com/index.php/chew_on_this/the-coolest-mobile-home-internet-radio-and-internet-toolbar-ive-come-across/#When:16:11:00Z Call me crazy, but I choose not to have a television.  If I had one, I’d probably zone out in front of it and watch Anthony Bourdain, Miami Ink, and Cash Cab marathons all day.  And frankly, I’ve got better things to do--like zone out in front of my computer to do Rosetta Stone, read the news and do work/homework.  Since all that’s pretty boring, I need a good internet radio to keep me pumped up.  After fiddling with pandora, live365 and listening to my same playlists on iTunes +100 times, I’ve finally found the mac daddy of all free internet radios:  http://www.musicovery.com.  Your station tailor your station according to your mood (positive-dark), energy level (relaxing-energetic), desired decades and favorite genres.  You can also set it on classics or discovery mode.  Either way, the song selection is extensive, and there are no commercials.  Kudos.  Last week my friend Julie sent me another cool computer time wasting website:  http://www.stumbleupon.com.  If you add their toolbar you can press the stumble button to take you to websites that correspond with your interests.  Your stumble results are refined each time you stumble upon a site and give either thumbs up or thumbs down.  I found the world’s coolest mobile home while stumbling:  http://www.loftcube.net.  How funny would one of these look in Conway Acres? 2008-04-15T16:11:00-06:00 http://www.thecornernews.com/index.php/chew_on_this/wanna-know-why-i-dont-eat-fast-food-play-this-mcvideo-game/ http://www.thecornernews.com/index.php/chew_on_this/wanna-know-why-i-dont-eat-fast-food-play-this-mcvideo-game/#When:15:46:00Z Find out where your value meal comes from by playing this entertaining, interactive game. http://www.mcvideogame.com/index.htmlFind out where your value meal comes from by playing this entertaining, interactive game. http://www.mcvideogame.com/index.html 2008-04-09T15:46:00-06:00 http://www.thecornernews.com/index.php/chew_on_this/food-for-thought/ http://www.thecornernews.com/index.php/chew_on_this/food-for-thought/#When:15:47:00Z My cousin sent me a link to these photos last week, and they blew me away. I think Ecuadorian family looks the happiest and healthiest. Check them out, and let me know what you think . . . http://blog.halbergphotographers.com/2007/12/11/average-weekly-food-consumption-of-families-around-the-world/My cousin sent me a link to these photos last week, and they blew me away. I think the Ecuadorian family looks the happiest and healthiest. Check them out, and let me know what you think . . . halbergphotographers.com 2008-03-24T15:47:00-06:00 http://www.thecornernews.com/index.php/chew_on_this/mall-food-court-musical/ http://www.thecornernews.com/index.php/chew_on_this/mall-food-court-musical/#When:02:03:00Z I've always wondered what would happen if everyone around me randomly broke into song, Rent style. Now I've got a good idea. The talented commedy group Improv Everywhere orchestrated and executed a 16-man musical in a mall food court in LA. Here's how it went down. I’ve always wondered what would happen if everyone around me randomly broke into song, Rent style.  Now I’ve got a good idea.  The talented commedy group Improv Everywhere orchestrated and executed a 16-man musical in a mall food court in LA. Here’s how it went down. 2008-03-11T02:03:00-06:00 http://www.thecornernews.com/index.php/chew_on_this/fly-spirit-air-to-south-america-and-back-for-18-each-way/ http://www.thecornernews.com/index.php/chew_on_this/fly-spirit-air-to-south-america-and-back-for-18-each-way/#When:21:00:00Z No, I didn't leave off any zeros. Spirit Airlines announced new non-stop service to Cartagena, Colombia, (on the Colombian Carribean Coast) today. To bolster sales, they're offering some AMAZING deals. You can fly Ft. Lauderdale-Cartagena for an unheard of $18 each way. That's cheaper than six gallons of gas. This flight to South America is cheaper than the gas for a trip from Auburn to Destin (225mi/25-mpg vehicle=9.04 gallons). Dates for the $18 deal are limited, but they coincide well with Auburn University's break between Spring and summer semesters. Even if you'd prefer to fly ATL-Colombia fares are just $88 each way and the travel dates are much more flexible. You can't even get to Denver or NYC that cheaply, even on AirTran. And even though the American dollar hit an all-time low this week, it still kick's the Colombian peso's ass. No, I didn’t leave off any zeros. Spirit Airlines announced new non-stop service to Cartagena, Colombia, (on the Colombian Carribean Coast) today. To bolster sales, they’re offering some AMAZING deals. You can fly Ft. Lauderdale-Cartagena for an unheard of $18 each way. That’s cheaper than six gallons of gas. This flight to South America is cheaper than the gas for a trip from Auburn to Destin (225mi/25-mpg vehicle=9.04 gallons). Dates for the $18 deal are limited, but they coincide well with Auburn University’s break between Spring and summer semesters. Even if you’d prefer to fly ATL-Colombia fares are just $88 each way and the travel dates are much more flexible. You can’t even get to Denver or NYC that cheaply, even on AirTran. And even though the American dollar hit an all-time low this week, it still kick’s the Colombian peso’s ass. If you’re one of the lucky few accustomed to 1st class travel, understand that Spirit planes are glorified greyhound buses with wings. Of course Spirit approaches this from a slightly different angle in their promotional material, calling themselves, “ The Largest Ultra Low Cost Carrier (ULCC) serving the United States, Latin America and the Caribbean.” That really says: no in-flight meals, no free snacks and (worst of all) no free drinks, alcoholic or dry. But it’s not all that bad if you’re prepared. I flew Spirit to and from Lima, Peru, over the holidays and while it did indeed suck, the check-in lines weren’t nearly as bad as those that plagued European airports last summer. You might be a little apprehensive about Colombia because of the current border standoff going on between them and Venezuela. They’ve got a few months to work it out before the travel dates. And as I see it, there are two types of tourists who are interested in visiting Colombia in the first place. Type 1, which I deem “the informed traveler”, understands the complexities of Colombia’s political and social conflicts well enough to travel smartly and safely. The second type I dub “sitting ducks” because they’re either convinced of their own invincibility, looking to put themselves in dangerous situations, or are blissfully ignorant to world politics. Bottom line: If you want to get travel Colombia’s Caribbean Coast for cheap, these special fares must be booked by 10:59 p.m. CST tomorrow! Check the sale out at http://www.spiritair.com/welcome.aspx?pg=salesinformation&number=522 .  2008-03-06T21:00:00-06:00 http://www.thecornernews.com/index.php/chew_on_this/slacklining-its-tight-rope-walking-for-the-21st-century/ http://www.thecornernews.com/index.php/chew_on_this/slacklining-its-tight-rope-walking-for-the-21st-century/#When:23:41:00Z So, I saw some kids attempting to walking across a not so tight rope between two puny Craype Myrtle trees out in front of the Haley the other day. Hmm, looks fun, I thought and then promptly forgot about . . . Until today when I saw this CRAZY video on the Nau website: https://www.nau.com/thecollective/life_on_a_line.jsp (Sorry, no embedded link, but it's worth the copy and paste.) Who knew that there was an entire pseudo-hippy subculture devoted to this? I didn't. While you're on the site, check out Nau's clothing. It's out of my college budget, but they make environmentally friendly street and sport clothing (for me and women) that looks more Bananna Republic than Dead Head.So, I saw some kids attempting to walking across a not so tight rope between two puny Craype Myrtle trees out in front of the Haley the other day.  Hmm, looks fun, I thought and then promptly forgot about . . . Until today when I saw this CRAZY video on the Nau website:  https://www.nau.com/thecollective/life_on_a_line.jsp (Sorry, no embedded link, but it’s worth the copy and paste.) Who knew that there was an entire pseudo-hippy subculture devoted to this?  I didn’t.  While you’re on the site, check out Nau’s clothing.  It’s out of my college budget, but they make environmentally friendly street and sport clothing (for me and women) that looks more Bananna Republic than Dead Head. 2008-02-19T23:41:00-06:00 http://www.thecornernews.com/index.php/chew_on_this/my-moo-shu-pork-fits-your-budget-and-wont-make-you-pop-any-buttons/ http://www.thecornernews.com/index.php/chew_on_this/my-moo-shu-pork-fits-your-budget-and-wont-make-you-pop-any-buttons/#When:01:51:00Z The sea of bobbing heads on the treadmills at the student act and at Gold’s are a dead giveaway that spring break is fast approaching. While I’m not a believer in diets of the conventional sort, I am putting myself on a financial diet for the next month. This Shu Pork recipe fits a tight budget, and is definently good for you, so it might even help you fit into your pants. And I promise that there’s nothing “diet” about its taste. The sea of bobbing heads on the treadmills at the student act and at Gold’s are a dead giveaway that spring break is fast approaching.  While I’m not a believer in diets of the conventional sort, I am putting myself on a financial diet for the next month.  This Shu Pork recipe fits a tight budget, and is definently good for you, so it might even help you fit into your pants.  And I promise that there’s nothing “diet” about its taste. 4 eggs, lightly beaten 1 teaspoon and 1 tablespoon of oil (preferable sesame or peanut) 1 lb lean pork, sliced thinly (pick from boneless chops, tenderloin or center cut loin; whichever is cheapest) 2 Tablespoons cornstarch Salt and pepper, to taste 2 tsp fresh ginger, peeled and minced (look for it in a refrigerator in the produce section) 3 cloves garlic, minced 2 green onions, thinly sliced (kitchen shears make this a breeze) 1 lb mushrooms, sliced 1/2 head napa cabbage, shredded (cut off the bottom in or so and remove the core first) 1/4 rice wine vinegar 1/3 cup soy sauce Heat teaspoon of oil in large skillet or wok over medium-high heat.  Toss pork in bowl with cornstarch, and season it with salt and pepper.  Add eggs, and resist the urge to scramble.  Let them cook throughout until you’re left with an egg pancake.  Flip it once and then remove from heat.  Add remaining tablespoon of oil and pork to skillet/wok.  Cook until outside of pork turns opaque and lightly golden brown in spots (about 6-8) minutes, leaving it slightly undercooked (It’ll finish cooking later.) Remove pork from heat.  Add ginger, garlic, green onion and mushrooms to the pan.  Cook until mushrooms are tender and begin to brown (about 5 minutes).  While the ‘shrooms are cooking roll up the now cool egg pancake Swiss cake roll style and cut it into thin strips crosswise.  Now, add cabbage, vinegar, soy sauce, pork, and shredded eggs to pan.  Cook until cabbage is wilted and pork is cooked throughout.  Traditionally Moo Shu Pork is served with Hoisin sauce (a.k.a. Plum Sauce), but I like mine topped with spicy Szechwan sauce.  It’s great over rice or wrapped up in a tortilla. 2008-02-18T01:51:00-06:00 http://www.thecornernews.com/index.php/chew_on_this/chuck-thompsons-smile-when-youre-lying-makes-reading-fun-again/ http://www.thecornernews.com/index.php/chew_on_this/chuck-thompsons-smile-when-youre-lying-makes-reading-fun-again/#When:18:13:00Z I hate to be negative Nancy, but let’s face it: school has sucked the life out of reading books for fun. It pains me to declare this as a writer and avid for-fun reader, but after 17 consecutive years of schoolin’ even I have been guilty at times of book burnout. If I had a dollar for every time I’ve heard someone say, “I read enough at school” or “I haven’t picked up a book since I graduated _fill-in-the-blank_ years ago,” I wouldn’t exactly be rich, but I could afford a decent spring break. But what they’ve forgotten is that reading doesn’t have to be such a drag. Chuck Thompson’s 2007 book “Smile When You’re Lying: Confessions of a Rogue Traveler” proves that reading can still make you laugh hysterically out loud. Seriously, I wouldn’t recommend reading it at any weddings, funerals or at any other locations where laughter is inappropriate. One part memoir and one part travel-industry expose, “Smile When You’re Lying,” condenses Thompson’s eclectic, exciting life as an expat and globetrotter into 336 fast-turning pages I hate to be negative Nancy, but let’s face it:  school has sucked the life out of reading books for fun.  It pains me to declare this as a writer and avid for-fun reader, but after 17 consecutive years of schoolin’ even I have been guilty at times of book burnout.  If I had a dollar for every time I’ve heard someone say, “I read enough at school” or “I haven’t picked up a book since I graduated _fill-in-the-blank_ years ago,” I wouldn’t exactly be rich, but I could afford a decent spring break.  But what they’ve forgotten is that reading doesn’t have to be such a drag. Chuck Thompson’s 2007 book “Smile When You’re Lying:  Confessions of a Rogue Traveler” proves that reading can still make you laugh hysterically out loud.  Seriously, I wouldn’t recommend reading it at any weddings, funerals or at any other locations where laughter is inappropriate.  One part memoir and one part travel-industry expose, “Smile When You’re Lying,” condenses Thompson’s eclectic, exciting life as an expat and globetrotter into 336 fast-turning pages. Unlike other writers who travel solely to report, Chuck Thompson started as a traveler and gradually became a writer.  Which means Thompson’s actually experienced the exotic places he writes about, as opposed to typical travel writers who only skim the surface places because they take free, rose-colored-glasses vacations that are funded by the same hotels and groups that they’re supposed to be reviewing.  Reading “Smile When You’re Lying” is like going on an international road-trip with your quirkiest, most-spontaneous friend.  Throughout the uncharted course of the book, Thompson comes across as a guy you’d actually drink a beer with.  And you need not be a fan of traveling to enjoy his lively characters and insightful anecdotes. Read exerts from the book and more about Chuck Thompson at http://www.chuckthompsonbooks.com. 2008-02-13T18:13:00-06:00 http://www.thecornernews.com/index.php/chew_on_this/amy-winehouse-creepier-than-ever-at-50th-grammys/ http://www.thecornernews.com/index.php/chew_on_this/amy-winehouse-creepier-than-ever-at-50th-grammys/#When:05:38:00Z So I just finished watching the Grammys, and I'm left wondering: was it just me or did Amy Winehouse's legs look about the same size as her mic stand? So I just finished watching the Grammys, and I’m left wondering: was it just me or did Amy Winehouse legs look about the same size as her mic stand? (The videos aren’t up on youtube just yet, but I’ll be sure to update this with a link when they are.) Her body alone is evidence that she’s surviving on a steady diet of nose candy. But her crazy eyes and non-sensical speeches tonight didn’t bode to well for her sanity or sobriety, either. I’m not usually one to entertain celebrity gossip, but unlike the Hollywood heroin horde, I think Amy Winehouse is a talented songwriter and performer. This girl needs to lay off the drugs fast, or else she’ll won’t live to see another Grammy ceremony.  2008-02-11T05:38:00-06:00